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A team of unknowns, has-beens, never-weres and wanna-bes, they have become about as welcome to their opponents as a pesky mosquito at twilight party time. In one of the most unexpected twists in recent NFL memory, they have gone from a franchise in ruin to a team admired ­— and, they have done it in the blink of an eye.

Just days ago the team announced that head coach Chuck Pagano, who has ghost-written this script from a hospital bed, is expected to have recovered enough from leukemia to return for the season finale. The Colts are 9-4 and on the cusp of earning a playoff spot nobody — not even its most ardent supporters in Indianapolis — dared dream possible just months ago.

There has been that unlikely comeback win against the Green Bay Packers. They beat the Minnesota Vikings. They won seven of eight, losing only to the New England Patriots.

The impetus behind the Colts ramble towards a playoff spot has been largely attributed to two things: Pagano’s inspirational fight against leukemia and determination to return to the sidelines and, secondly, the mature steadying hand of rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.

Both have been gilded stories.

“I think as long he overcomes it and gets healthy and goes back to being himself, it has galvanized this football team,” interim head coach Bruce Arians has said of Pagano’s influence. “In a weird way maybe it has helped this franchise take a bigger step forward.”

There is never a moment when the absent head coach is far from this team’s mind. Football teams usually have a rallying cry. The Colts always break apart with: “1-2-3 Chuck.”

Luck has made a Hollywood entrance with perhaps the greatest rookie season of any NFL quarterback. He has carried the Colts to eight wins in 10 games since Pagano’s sudden departure.

Luck, however, may have run its course this weekend.

What hasn’t been so well documented is that other than those two wins against Minnesota and Green Bay the Colts have not beaten another team with a winning record. And, Sunday they go to Houston where the Texans ­— after being humiliated by New England — are likely to be as hospitable as a nest full of bad-tempered hornets.

As lovely as the Indianapolis rise from the ruins might be, truth is that their victories have largely come against the weak, the halt, the uninspired and the under-achieving; a list that includes the Titans (twice), Jacksonville, Buffalo, the Browns, Lions and Dolphins. Together those teams have a combined 25-53 record.

Beating them is one thing.

Doing it against the Texans would appear a bit tougher. The Patriots have been invincible at Gillette Stadium so Houston needs to win home field advantage in the playoffs. And standing in its way two of the next three weekends are the curious Colts.

It shouldn’t even be close.

The Texans average the fourth most points per game in the NFL (28.1). Luck will face a defence unlike many he has yet seen; one that gives up just 20.2 points a game. Indianapolis has a wounded offensive line that will have to find a way to slow down J.J. Watt and a defence that has 37 sacks or Luck could be in for the longest, bumpiest game of his pro career. Arians announced Friday the Colts face their biggest test yet without centre Samson Satele, who makes the line calls, and right tackle Winston Justice.

There is little statistically to suggest the Colts should even be in a position to challenge for a wild card, let alone for the division crown and the Texans. There is little to suggest that Luck, with a less than exemplary 74.5 passer rating should be such a miracle worker.

But somehow they have made it work.

They don’t play well on the road. They give up too many points. Aside from their offensive yardage totals the Colts are not among the top 10 teams in any major categories.

Yet, somehow they make it work.

They rarely have won the turnover battle, sitting at a minus-16. Luck, for all the accolades, has thrown 18 interceptions. Too many.

Yet, somehow it works.

They even lost to Jacksonville in Week 3, and the Jags are so bad they’d get out-scored most Sunday’s by their own shadows. Sometimes it seems, it is all a bit of a mystery even to the Colts themselves. “I still don’t know who we are really,” Colts quarterback coach Clyde Christensen told Yahoo Sports earlier this week. “We just do our job for 60 minutes.”

This week that job just got a little more difficult.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT

ESPN has suspended commentator Rob Parker indefinitely. An African-American himself, Parker criticized Robert Griffin III, saying: “He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really like the kind of guy you really want to hang out with.” He was also critical of the Washington quarterback because his fiancée is white.

QUICK HITS

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski returned to practice Friday for the first time since breaking his forearm but isn’t expected to play against the 49ers ... North Carolina running back Giovani Bernard is giving up two years of eligibility and entering the NFL draft ... Giants tailback Ahmad Bradshaw (knee) has been ruled out of Sunday’s game ... Ndamukong Suh was not fined after being flagged for roughing Aaron Rodgers ... Saints Jimmy Graham has played all season with an unreported sore wrist.

ALLEN NO FAN OF EXPANSION

So Jared Allen, how about that talk of playoff expansion?

“It’s stupid,” the Vikings’ defensive end told reporters. “I think it’s a dumb idea. The reason our league is so much better than other leagues, I think, is because of that competition. Every game means something. There are 162 games in baseball and you’re like, ‘Ehhh.’ No one really watches until the end, right? Basketball, same way. There’s no real significance on every game. And I think you damage the sport if an 8-8 team (has a greater playoff chance).”

The league is looking at expanding its playoff format from 12 to either 14 or 16 teams.

“... Games become less significant each week,” said Allen, “if you know, like, ‘Oh, I can still lose half my games and sneak into the playoffs’.

Colts' season might hit roadblock against Texans

A team of unknowns, has-beens, never-weres and wanna-bes, they have become about as welcome to their opponents as a pesky mosquito at twilight party time. In one of the most unexpected twists in recent NFL memory, they have gone from a franchise in ruin to a team admired ­— and, they have done it in the blink of an eye.

Just days ago the team announced that head coach Chuck Pagano, who has ghost-written this script from a hospital bed, is expected to have recovered enough from leukemia to return for the season finale. The Colts are 9-4 and on the cusp of earning a playoff spot nobody — not even its most ardent supporters in Indianapolis — dared dream possible just months ago.

There has been that unlikely comeback win against the Green Bay Packers. They beat the Minnesota Vikings. They won seven of eight, losing only to the New England Patriots.